Sport Pilot (Airplane) Emergency Equipment & Survival Gear Lesson Plan
Sport Pilot (Airplane) • PTS Area IX, Task C
The Sport Pilot (Airplane) Emergency Equipment And Survival Gear Lesson Plan covers the knowledge and skills required by FAA-S-8081-29A.
Introduction
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Schedule
Topic:Time:Attention/Motivator:0:05Part 1, Lesson Introduction:0:05Part 2, Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear:0:15Part 3, Survival Gear by Environment:0:15Part 4, Aircraft Emergency Systems:0:15Part 5, Passenger Briefing Requirememts:0:15Part 6, Risk Management:0:15Part 7, Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear Risk Management:0:20Part 8, Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear Guided Scenario(s):0:20Part 9, Lesson Conclusion:0:05Remotivation/Closure:0:05Total Ground Time:0:00
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Attention Getter:
- Research and present a mishap case study:
- Discuss how the initial conditions developed into an incident/accident/mishap
- Relate similar personal experiences of the same type of incident/accident/mishap
- Consider incorporating a case study as a guided scenario
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Motivator:
- Emergency equipment is your life-line when stranded until Search and Rescue (SAR) arrives
Materials
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Required Materials:
- Writing instrument (pen, marker, etc.).
- Writing surface (paper, whiteboard, etc.).
- Pilot Operating Handbook
- Weight & Balance Form Template
- Airman Certification Standards.
- Student jacket.
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Optional Materials:
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Reference Materials:
Instructor Actions
- Before the lesson, review reference materials.
- Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
- Review the lesson plan, including the attention and motivator.
- Review the airman certification standards.
- Part 2, Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear:
- Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain aircraft-specific installation/placement and accessibility.
- Introduce each item, its purpose, and limitations, including non-standard items such as fuel and seat materials.
- Write down all items for later use in lesson.
- Emphasize Emergency Locator Transmitter location, automatic/manual activation, and testing requirements.
- Part 3, Survival Gear by Environment:
- Introduce how environment drives survival gear.
- Compare hot- and cold-climate exposure, mountainous and remote terrain, and overwater versus land survival requirements.
- Discuss and identify what is required to make a mission-specific survival kit for each environment.
- Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply 48–72 hour survivability considerations ("The first 72 is on you").
- Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply accessibility and the resulting priorities of work (i.e., water, shelter, signaling, and medical needs).
- Introduce how environment drives survival gear.
- Part 4, Aircraft Emergency Systems:
- Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of ballistic parachute systems and emergency auto-land systems.
- Walk through each.
- Use guided questioning to have the learner explain when each is appropriate to use.
- Part 5, Passenger Briefing Requirements:
- Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain what is required by FAR (Federal Aviation Regulations).
- Use guided questioning to have the learner explain what may be prudent to add.
- Use guided questioning to have the learner explain how briefing requirements change by passenger composition.
- Part 6, Risk Management:
- Discuss impacts of:
- Inadequate survival gear.
- Improper equipment use.
- Overconfidence in rescue timeline.
- Use guided questioning to have the learner explain how climate impacts risk.
- Discuss impacts of:
- Part 7, Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear Risk Management:
- Assess inaccessible or unsecured equipment, inadequate occupant preparation, unsuitable gear for the route and season, delayed rescue, fire, exposure, flotation, signaling, and evacuation hazards; require a mission-specific equipment and post-landing survival plan.
- Required teaching coverage:
- Select, inspect, secure, and operate aircraft- and route-appropriate emergency, signaling, survival, flotation, fire, first-aid, and communication equipment.
- Match equipment and occupant preparation to mountain terrain, large bodies of water, desert conditions, extreme temperature changes, remoteness, season, weather, rescue delay, and post-landing hazards, including accessibility after impact or evacuation. (SP.1) (SP.2) (SP.3) (SP.4)
- Use scenario discussion to require a preflight equipment decision and a post-landing survival and rescue-signaling plan.
- Part 8, Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear Guided Scenario(s):
- Student must be able to identify emergency equipment, describe equipment use, prioritize use, and walk through the decision making associated with developing survival kits and their use.
- Part 9, Lesson Conclusion:
- Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply the possible differences between calculated performance and actual performance.
- Tie lesson back to previous lessons to reinforce past experiences (law of readiness).
- Present the remotivation, conclude, and provide guidance for follow-on lessons.
- Review student actions required ahead of the next lesson.
- Update the instructor log and student progress. Select the student and sign off completed objectives. If the student does not have a connected account, record the update manually in the instructor log and student training record.
Guided Scenario(s)
- Using the list of emergency equipment by climate, describe survival equipment for the two most likely environments the student will encounter. Note any missing items.
- Discuss ditching in water and accessibility to survival equipment.
- Preflight Assessment.
Student Actions
- Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
- Find all limitations in the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH).
- Ask pertinent questions.
- Perform self-assessment, including fitness for flight and personal minimums, as appropriate.
- Make a go/no-go decision, as appropriate.
Airman Certification Standards
Sport Pilot (Airplane) Emergency Equipment & Survival Gear Practical Test Standards
- Source: FAA-S-8081-29A, Section 1 - Sport Pilot Airplane.
- Task: EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT AND SURVIVAL GEAR (ASEL and ASES).
- Note: This TASK shall be evaluated orally.
- References: AC 91-69; FAA-H-8083-23; AFM/POH.
- Objective: To determine that the applicant exhibits knowledge of the elements related to emergency equipment appropriate to the following environmental conditions:
Objective Elements 4 PTS Elements
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SP.1: Mountain terrain -
SP.2: Large bodies of water -
SP.3: Desert conditions -
SP.4: Extreme temperature changes.
Conclusion
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Re-Motivation:
- Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear develops the calm, disciplined response needed when time, altitude, aircraft capability, or available options are limited.
- Early recognition, aircraft control, checklist use, clear priorities, and continuous evaluation of recovery or landing options help prevent an abnormal event from becoming unmanageable.
- Scenario practice strengthens situational awareness and aeronautical decision-making so pilots can adapt procedures to the aircraft, environment, and urgency of the event.
- Continued practice with Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear prepares sport pilots to manage more complex failures while preserving the margins needed for a safe outcome.
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Closure:
- Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson.
- Assign study materials for the next lesson.